Hydrangea plant named ‘INH-HYD-14’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘INH-HYD-14’ is disclosed, characterized by narrow, pubescent leaves, which are red when young. Large, red hairs on actively growing stems, and a long period before blooming starts. The new variety is a  Hydrangea , with interesting foliage, suitable for outdoor container and garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘INH-HYD-14’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned Hydrangea breeding program, from the Institut National d'Horticulture located in Angers, France. The new variety was discovered as a seedling within the planned breeding program. This seedling is a result from the crossing made in July 2001 of the female parent, an undistributed proprietary variety referred to as ‘143’ with the male parent, an undistributed proprietary variety referred to as ‘188.’ It was selected by Claudie Lambert and Helene Bertrand during the Summer of 2005 at the research facility in Angers, France.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘INH-HYD-14’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed in Angers, France at the Institut Nation d'Horticulture, during the Spring of 2006 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘INH-HYD-14’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘INH-HYD-14’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘INH-HYD-14’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar:

-   -   1. Narrow, pubescent leaves.     -   2. Distinctive red coloration of young foliage.     -   3. Large red hairs on young, actively growing stems.     -   4. Long juvenile stage, at least 2 years before flowers appear.     -   5. Sterile inflorescence without ornamental interest.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘INH-HYD-14’ are similar to plants of the female parent, ‘143,’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘INH-HYD-14’ have pubescent leaves and stems, and unique red coloration of the young foliage. Additionally, plants of the new cultivar are sterile, and form an inflorescence of a different appearance.

‘INH-HYD-14’ differs from the male parent ‘188’ in having narrower foliage, and having pubescent stems. Additionally, plants of the new cultivar are sterile, and form an inflorescence of a different appearance.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘INH-HYD-14’ are not comparable to any known commercial varieties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typical foliage and stem coloration of ‘INH-HYD-14’ grown outdoors in Angers, France.

FIG. 2 illustrates plants of the new variety.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘INH-HYD-14’ plants outdoors, in Angers, France from October 2006 to October 2008. The growing temperature ranged from 10° C. to 17° C. at night to 12° C. to 35° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea hybrid cultivar ‘INH-HYD-14.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 15 to 20 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous, white.

PLANT

-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 2 years, except for the     floral structures. Due to long juvenile stage, floral structures     were described from a 4 to 5 year old plant. -   Growth habit: Shrub. -   Height: Average 27 cm. -   Plant spread: Average 45 cm. -   Growth rate: About 12 cm/year. -   Branching characteristics: Spreading. -   Length of lateral branches: Average 18 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.6 cm. -   Pinching required: No     -   -   Details of pinching.—No matter. -   Lateral branch shape: Spreading -   Lateral branch strength: Stout -   Lateral branch color: Approximately RHS base Greyed-Orange 174A, top     Greyed-Yellow 160B -   Other stem or plant characteristics:     -   -   Lenticels.—Inconspicuous.         -   Growing stems.—Fleshy red pubescence Red 53B.         -   Stem pubescence.—Yes. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Average 30

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Compound or single.—Single.         -   Average length.—14.2 cm.         -   Average width.—4.7 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Broadly attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Opposite.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Waffled.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Rough.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Greyed-Red 178B             Young foliage under side: Near R.H.S. Greyed-Red 178B Mature             foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 138A Mature foliage             under side: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 147C.         -   Venation.—Type: pinnate Venation color upper side: Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 147D Venation color under side: Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 147D with Red-Purple 65B.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Cold tolerance medium. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—3.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near R.H.S. Red 47A.

FLOWER

-   Age of plant with floral structures: Approximately 6 years. -   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—July and August. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Corymbiform.         -   Type.—Lacecap with very few sterile flowers.         -   Height.—Approximately 5 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 7 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Fertile flowers,             approximately >500 Sterile Flowers, approximately 2 or 3. -   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape.—Bumpy.         -   Bud length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 0.25 cm.         -   Bud color.—Near R.H.S. Greyed-Green 193C Base/calyx: Near             R.H.S. Greyed-Green 193D. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape.—Rotate.         -   Facing direction.—Upright.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—About 100.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 1500.         -   Diameter of entire flower.—Fertile: Approximately 0.6 cm.             Sterile: Approximately 1 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—Fertile: Approximately 0.1 cm. Sterile:             Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Rate of opening.—Individual flowers: Fully open             approximately 2 days from the bud stage. Whole Plant:             Approximately 50% of flowers open at once.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Fertile flowers: Approximately 4             days. Sterile flowers: Approximately 20 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Petals self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Very light. -   Petals:     -   -   Length of petal.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Width of petal.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute and curved.         -   Shape of petal.—Spatulate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal arrangement.—One whorl.         -   Petal number.—5.         -   Petals fused.—No.         -   Petal appearance.—Dull.         -   Petal texture.—Fleshy. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Lighter than RHS Red-Purple             69D.         -   Upper surface at maturity.—Lighter than RHS Red-Purple 69D.         -   Upper surface at fading.—Lighter than RHS Red-Purple 69D.         -   Under surface at first opening.—Lighter than RHS Red-Purple             69D.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Lighter than RHS Red-Purple 69D.         -   Under surface at fading.—Lighter than RHS Red-Purple 69D. -   Petaloids: Very few petaloid sepals

CALYX

-   Present: Yes -   Shape: Campanulate -   Length: Approximately 0.15 cm -   Diameter: Approximately 0.15 cm

SEPAL

-   Number: 5 -   Sepal appearance: Dull -   Sepal arrangement: One whorl -   Sepal length: Approximately 0.05 cm. -   Sepal width: Approximately 0.06 cm -   Sepal shape: Triangular -   Base: Broad -   Apex shape: Acute -   Margin: Entire -   Color: Near R.H.S. Greyed-Green 193D

PEDUNCLE

-   Length: Approximately 4 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 0.25 cm -   Angie: 45° -   Strength: Strong -   Color: Near R.H.S. Greyed-Green 193C

PEDICEL

-   Present: Yes -   Length: Approximately 1 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 0.15 cm. -   Angle: Approximately 50 degrees. -   Strength: Stout -   Color: Near RHS Greyed-Green 193D

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Number of pistils per flower.—2 to 3.         -   Pistil length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Stigma shape.—Fan-shaped.         -   Stigma color.—Near RHS white 155D.         -   Style color.—Near RHS white 155D.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.05 cm.         -   Ovary color.—Near RHS white 155D.         -   Stamens quantity.—8 to 10.         -   Anther shape.—Globular.         -   Anther size.—<0.05 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 69C.         -   Pollen color.—No pollen.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruit/seed production: No fruits produced. -   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Semi-hardy perennial, tolerant     of some high temperatures. Upper limit of temperature tolerance has     not been observed, however, known to tolerate temperatures of at     least up to 35° C. Lower limits have also not been observed,     however, observed hardy to −5° C. No drought tolerance has been     observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘INH-HYD-14’ as herein illustrated and described. 